Blessing of the Fleets
Ceremony at the Navy Memorial plus Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival
"Passed down through generations of sailors, fishermen, merchant mariners and navies around the world, the centuries-old "Blessing of the Fleets" ceremony is intended to safeguard the crews and their ships from the danger of the seas though a traditional blessing given by a clergyman at the water's edge.
"As a tribute to our nations rich maritime heritage and the men and women who have contributed to its growth and success, the United States Navy Memorial hosts it annual Blessing of the Fleets ceremony each spring. The event is free and open to the public and is an official event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
"A the United States Navy Memorial, the ceremony's highlight occurs when Sailors from the U.S. Navy's Ceremonial Guard proceed across the Memorial Plaza's "Granite Sea" to pour water from the Seven Seas and the Great Lakes into the surrounding fountains, "charging" them to life and ushering in the spring season."